Tag: The Easter Story

Easter 2013 Date is Sunday March 31

Easter 2013 date falls on Sunday March 31. It is the greatest feast day in the Christian 2013 calendar, celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In Western Christianity, Easter date is always celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the Paschal Full Moon. Many Christians will celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter 2013, Sunday March 31. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox.

What do people do on Easter 2013?

Many churches hold special services on Easter Sunday, which celebrate the Jesus Christ’s resurrection after his crucifixion. Many people also decorate eggs. These can be hard boiled eggs that can be eaten later, but may also be model eggs made of plastic, chocolate, candy or other materials. It is also common to organize Easter egg hunts. Eggs of some form are hidden, supposedly by a rabbit or hare. People, especially children, then search for them. In some areas, Easter egg hunts are a popular way for local businesses to promote themselves or may even be organized by churches.

Public life on Easter 2013

Easter Sunday is not a federal holiday. Many aspects of public life are not any different to any other Sunday. Public transit systems usually run their regular Sunday schedule.

Background of Easter 2013

In Pagan times, many groups of people organized spring festivals. Many of these celebrated the re-birth of nature, the return the land to fertility and the birth of many young animals. These are the origins of the Easter eggs that we still hunt for and eat.

In Christian times, the spring began to be associated with Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. The crucifixion is remembered on Good Friday and the resurrection is remembered on Easter Sunday. The idea of the resurrection joined with the ideas of re-birth in Pagan beliefs.

Symbols of Easter 2013

For people with strong Christian beliefs, the cross that Jesus was crucified on and his resurrection are important symbols of the period around Easter. Other symbols of Easter include real eggs or eggs manufactured from a range of materials, nests, lambs and rabbits or hares. Sometimes these symbols are combined, for example, in candy models of rabbits with nests full of eggs. Eggs, rabbits, hares and young animals are thought to represent the re-birth and return to fertility of nature in the spring.

Easter 2013 Date and Meaning of the Easter Sunday Holiday

Easter, the spring holiday that marks the rebirth of Jesus for adherents of the Christian faith who employ the Gregorian calendar, will be celebrated this year on Sunday, March 31. Orthodox Easter will be celebrated a little more than a month later on Sunday, May 5.

The Easter holiday, which is typically not observed on the same date each year, changes depending on the moon. Each year, it is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox, which is around March 21. Typically, its Sunday date coincides with the end of Lent, between March 22 and April 25, as the holiday marks the end of the 30-day period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline for many Christians.

This Easter marks a special one for members of the Roman Catholic Church as it the first holiday to be celebrated with the newly elected Pope Francis. As the 265th successor of Peter, Pope Francis will begin the celebration of Easter with Mass on Holy Thursday, as it is called in Christian tradition, and by washing the feet of prisoners in a youth detention center in Rome. According to BBC News, Pope Francis started this pre-Easter practice when he was the archbishop of Buenos Aires in his native Argentina, although a similar tradition dates back to the time of Christ. According to church teachings, the pope shall wash and kiss the feet of 12 people to replicate Jesus Christ’s humility toward the 12 apostles the night before he was crucified as homage to the story in the Bible.

This year, Pope Francis will host his feet-washing ceremony at the Casal del Marmo Detention Center, while celebrating Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

“With this celebration at Casal del Marmo, Pope Francis will continue this custom, which is characterised by its humble context,” the Vatican said in statement.

Easter is one of the most important holidays for those who practice the Christian faith, as it marks the end of Lent and celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Christians attend church services on Easter Sunday, as it is typically called. According to the Christian Bible, Jesus came back to life three days after his death on the cross. Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus, three days before Easter. According to About.com, the meaning of Easter is found in the following biblical passages: Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30.

The name Easter was arguably taken from either Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, or hebdomada alba, which means white week in Latin, according to History.com.

Aside from religion, Easter is also celebrated commercially, with bunnies, chocolate, marshmallow chicks, colored eggs and baskets for children as standard fare for the celebration.

In the U.S., by tradition, the president joins in the celebration of Easter with an annual Easter Egg Roll held at the White House. This year, Barack Obama and his family will host the 135-year tradition on the Monday after Easter, or Easter Monday as it is called.